READERS RESPOND

The death of our black swan by the Harbor Patrol boat was unfortunate and unnecessary. The Code 3 response should never be carried out to such an extent to endanger the lives or property of the innocent. This was not a life-threatening situation or a violent crime in progress. There was no indication that a situation was worsening. A body floating in the bay does not come under the above criteria. The use of the Code 3 response was inappropriate.

DAVE SALCIDO

Costa Mesa

As a friend of Rupert, I find it inexcusable that the Harbor Patrol wouldn’t avoid such an accident. There simply is no reason for a boat of that size to be speeding in our bay. A dead body is a dead body, and no amount of speeding would have saved the life. What if a child had been in a small boat sailing in the bay and in the line of direction of the Harbor Patrol boat — what then? And where is it posted that swimming in the bay is forbidden? Residents and tourists alike enjoy swimming in our bay. I hope an apology has been given to Gay Wassall-Kelly from the driver of the boat. She was devoted to Rupert and gave him the best care. I will miss my weekly visits with Rupert as I kayak in our bay.

TRISH KNAPP

Newport Beach

I am sorry about the swan. However, in an emergency, the Harbor Patrol needs to react as quickly as possible. Would you ask an ambulance or fire truck to drive slow if you were in need of their service? I don’t think so.

Last week, I had a problem on my boat. They came with sirens and in a timely manner. Had they not, I could have sunk. They dewatered my boat in my slip. I’m grateful for the fact that they got to me quickly.

I also see boats of all sizes going much too fast in the harbor, especially around the Coast Highway bridge and swales anchorage area.

I will also miss Rupert, and I know that this was an accident. Let’s not change the way our great Harbor Patrol reacts in an emergency situation.

Thanks to the patrol for helping all the boat owners in Newport Harbor.

ANDY SEIDNER

Newport Beach

It sounds all too political to me regarding the speed of the Harbor Patrol: Did the Newport Beach Police Department speed to get there on land? Living on the sand in Newport I can watch on a daily basis our police department’s four-wheel ATVs and patrol units drive way too fast in nonemergency situations. If a police officer ran over the bird on land, I bet the finger-pointing and mud-slinging would not exist.

Regarding Councilman Ed Selich’s saying the Harbor Patrol is not boater-friendly and is quick to write tickets: Our very own Police Department is definitely not people- or car-friendly and always writes the ticket (at least to us civilians).

TOD CURRY

Newport Beach

Yes, the Harbor Patrol — what a silly question to ask — should be able to go if anybody was hurt or anything. Who wouldn’t want somebody to be there as fast as possible?

I’m sorry about Rupert; he was a sweetie. But the Harbor Patrol should do its job. And it does.

JUDITH WILSON

Newport Beach

It is very sad to hear that Rupert was killed by the Harbor Patrol while they were responding to a call regarding a body floating near a dock. My concern is this: Do they ask for details when somebody reports, the way that the 911 operators do? Or do they just jump in the boat and speed off?

Suppose that it wasn’t Rupert but some person rowing their kayak, canoe or rubber boat across the same path. Is it worth risking the life of a living person to respond so quickly to someone who is already dead?

ROSS RIBAUDO

Newport Beach

Yes, Harbor Patrol should slow down. I see them go full throttle for a boat out of gas, and, no, the boat wasn’t near rocks, other boats or in any other danger. I see the damage to docks, boats and now Rupert. “An accident,” as the news portrays? No way.

And don’t get me started on how sad all of the kids in the harbor are about this loss.

STEFANIE BEEK

Balboa Island

Harbor Patrol officers should respond commensurate with the situations they face. Police officers on land face this every day in car chases and try to use appropriate caution to avoid casualties among bystanders. If the Harbor Patrol officers knew they were investigating a dead body, they should have traveled slowly enough to avoid an accident, or in this case, killing Rupert the swan. This was a wholly preventable tragedy based on the facts reported so far.

DON ABRAMS

Balboa Island

Yes, I think the Harbor Patrol boats should slow down. I’ve seen them racing through here, often times it seems like they’re just enjoying the heck out of it and I think it’s terrible what happened to Rupert and it could have happened to a little kid or anybody

So, yes, I think they should slow down.

MALIA STROMQUIST

Balboa Island

Yes, Harbor Patrol boats should be forced to slow down. There are almost no circumstances under which the relatively modest high speed of the boats would make them get fast enough to a place to save a drowning person.

In the case of the Rupert death, totally unnecessary. The boat would have gotten there within six minutes at its maximum speed of 30 mph, and there’s no chance that it would have saved a person who was drowning because they’d have been dead within the six minutes anyway.

So, it was just a complete waste, unnecessary, and damaging to all the boats because of the wakes they stirred up.

I was born and have lived in this area my entire life, and I’m a licensed professional mariner, and I really do know what I’m talking about with regard to boating safety.

FRED R. BOCKMILLER JR.

Costa Mesa